PORTFOLIO BENJI KAPLAN
DESIGN STUDIO 4 FINAL PROJECT
INCREMENTAL DESIGN
COMMUNITY
EXCAVATE CIRCULAR MONOLITHIC INTRUSION
RAMP DOWN PEDESTRIAN ACCESS USING CONTEXTUAL AXIS
INCREMENTAL DESIGN
BRIDGE CONTEXTUAL AXIS THROUGH EXCAVATION FILL IN SPACE NEXT TO BRIDGE AXIS FOR DYNAMIC INTERIOR
ABSTRACT PARTI
MAJOR AXIS SECTION RENDERING
CD DETAILS AND CONTEXTUAL RENDER
NIGHT RENDERING
STUDIO 4 MODEL
SPLIT pedestrain circulation patterns inform a notched corridor that crosses through site
DEFINE site access points and derive small corridors allowing internal site movement
SYSTEMATIZE massings inform a harmonized program orientation with residual interstices for communal space
ITERATIVE DESIGN PROCESS
STUDIO 3 MODEL
BASE MADE OF HAND-MIXED CONCRETE
STRUCTURES MADE OF STAINED BASS WOOD
DESIGN STUDIO 2 FINAL PROJECT
STUDIO 2 FINAL PROJECT
MUSEUM OF THE PRINTED PAGE
SITE PLAN
MASSING DESIGN
CONCEPT
FORM DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DIAGRAM
PEELING THE GROUND SURFACE UP TO REVEAL THE PALIMPSEST UNDERNEATH
SECTION RENDERING
DESIGN STUDIO 1 FINAL PROJECT
LIBRARY COMMUNITY KITCHEN AND FILM VENUE
PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR
EXPLODED AXON OF THE FORMS MAKING UP THE STRUCTURE
PAVILLIONS ON THE RIVERSIDE
(EVERYTHING HAND-DRAWN)
B
K
BENJI KAPLAN
BENJIKAP@GMAIL.COM (917) 742-6999
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH | Class of 2025
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ARCHITECTURE + MINOR IN FILM AND MEDIA STUDIES
- Two-time Architecture Studio TA
- Dean’s List every semester (GPA 3.91)
- Completed all five of the Architectural Design Studios
STUYVESANT HIGH SCHOOL | Class of 2020
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
SCREENER COMMITTEE | Screenshot: Asia Film Festival | University of Pittsburgh
February 2022 - Present
- Selected as member of invitation-only committee
- Screened 40+ films, wrote review and verdict for each
- Completed screening for two festivals
TEACHING ASSISTANT | Foundations Studio and Studio 1 | University of Pittsburgh
SKILLS
SKILLS
Spring 2024, Spring 2023
- One of two TAs selected from 30+ applicants
SOFTWARE
SOFTWARE
- Conducted desk critiques of students every class
- Taught lectures on variety of design topics
- AutoCAD
- AutoCAD
- Taught physical modeling techniques
- Revit
- Revit
- Selected to return to TA the following studio
- Rhino
- Rhino
- InDesign
- InDesign
VOLUNTEER | Avonstour Heritage Organic Farm | Taranaki, New Zealand
- Photoshop
- Photoshop
Summer 2023
- Illustrator
- Illustrator
- Cared for variety of livestock on rare breeds farm
- SketchUp
- SketchUp
- Fed animals and maintained their quarters 7 days a week
- Diagramming
- Diagramming
- Spreadsheets BY HAND
- Spreadsheets BY HAND
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
SERVER | Ali Baba Restaurant | Pittsburgh, PA
September 2023 - May 2024
- Worked 20 hrs per week with full academic schedule
MANAGING CREW MEMBER | Baby Loves Tacos | Pittsburgh, PA
- Drafting
- Drafting
Fall 2022
- Model Making
- Model Making
- Worked as chef and line cook, preparing food and designing menu items
- Diagramming
- Diagramming
- Operated register, opened and closed shop, cleaned dishes
- Drawing FILM
- Drawing FILM
- Frequently ran shop alone
CREW | Chipotle Mexican Grill | New York, NY
Gap Year 2020-2021
- Worked full-time or more while frequently understaffed at multiple busy Manhattan locations
- Collaborated to design Spring 2025 Contemporary Film syllabus
- Collaborated to design Spring 2025 Contemporary Film syllabus
- Duties included customer service, food prep, and cleaning
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INTERN | TG Therapeutics | New York, NY
Summer 2020
- Watch and review
- Watch and review
400+ films a year; reviews published on Letterboxd.com (January 2020 - Present)
400+ films a year; reviews published on Letterboxd.com (January 2020 - Present)
- Conducted extensive research using results of clinical trials for treatments of NonHodgkins Lymphoma
- Compiled a database on all new and emerging treatments
SAFE DIGITAL MODELER | Empire Safe Co. | New York, NY
Summer 2019
- Designed digital models of high-end safes and interacted with prospective customers in midtown showroom
- Created first digital models and diagrams of safes for 100+ year old company and modernized company website